The ultimate aim of karate is in the “Perfection of the Character of itsParticipants”. One of these main principles is that “karate begins & ends with courtesy”. Our national Chito-Ryu leader (saikoshihan), Sensei Shane Higashi, extended this philosophy with the phrase “One Heart, One Mind”, which means that all karate practitioners must help and support one another. It is only through this spirit of cooperation, that karate can achieve its ultimate aim.